It’s all I have to bring today—
This, and my heart beside—
This, and my heart, and all the fields—
And all the meadows wide—
Be sure you count—should I forget
Some one the sum could tell—
This, and my heart, and all the Bees
Which in the Clover dwell.
The above is a picture of Emily Dickinson’s home, now The Emily Dickinson museum.
This small simple poem by Emily Dickinson appealed to me. I was surprised however to find how popular it is. It has been turned into a song and is a favourite at weddings.
What do you think causes its popularity? Is it the fact that Emily Dickinson wrote it? Is it something to do with its rhyme? Or is it the way the lines build using the phrase ‘This, and my heart’? There is something very touching and open about that phrase. It could be a sentimental poem but in my opinion it isn’t. Nor is it too flowery, in spite of all the bees.
There are some interesting discussions about it online and you can find some on this lovely blog, ‘the prowling bee’. I prefer not to analyse it too much myself. I just liked it but it is interesting to figure out why.
The title matches my thoughts at present. I haven’t been bringing much to my blog lately. Life keeps interfering. I have lots of ideas I want to write about including my favourite…the importance of imagination. But this is all I have to bring today!
If you want to read more Tuesday Poems or other news about the poetry world go to the Tuesday Poem site here.
gurglewords 